Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music taking courses in composition and performance, while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. His music career started when he was nineteen, when Jim Henson hired him to write tunes for Sesame Street. He was also hired to write commercial jingles while in college.
Brickman writes a wide variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love songs, he has also created arrangements of other songs. Several of his albums feature arrangements of children's music; he has produced two Christmas-themed albums The Gift (1997) and Peace (2003); and his 2005 album Grace concentrates on arrangements of well-known Christian music.
Jim Brickman has also starred in the now-on-DVD PBS specials "My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman", "Love Songs & Lullabies" and "The Disney Songbook." In 2006, he sponsored his first Jim Brickman Valentine's Day Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines which has become an annual event.
Over The Rainbow
Jim Brickman Lyrics
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There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
The lyrics to Jim Brickman's "Over The Rainbow" speak about a land that exists beyond the rainbow, a place where the skies are blue and dreams come true. The concept of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is a metaphor for a utopian world where there is no conflict or pain, and everything is perfect. The singer wishes upon a star to be transported to this land where troubles melt away like lemon drops, high above the chimney tops. The falsetto "ooohs" and "aaahs" in the song denote a sense of wonder and awe, evoking a dreamlike, almost mystical quality.
The theme of escapism is prominent in the song, as it speaks of a yearning to leave the present reality behind and enter a world of fantasy. The bluebirds that fly over the rainbow are symbols of happiness and hope, and the singer wonders why they can fly to this magical place but not he. The lyrics inspire a sense of longing for a better world, an idealized version of existence.
Overall, "Over The Rainbow" is a song that encourages hope, daydreaming and pursuing aspirations. It reminds us that beyond the struggles, there exists a world of possibility and that sometimes, all we need is the courage to dream big.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a magical place in the sky that may exist beyond our reality.
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
This place is only heard of in mythical, even surreal stories.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
In this mystical utopia, there are no underlying issues, and happiness is ubiquitous.
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
The aspirations that one never thought were even possible.
Really do come true.
Do have the potential to manifest themselves.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
One day, I will ask the universe for guidance and visualization of myself living in this world.
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Realizing this dream would result in me being at perpetual peace and contentment with my life.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Any concerns or anxieties that once existed in my life have vanished because of my immersion in this ideal place.
High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.
I am located on this almost ethereal plane of existence that is inaccessible to most.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In this mysterious and fantastic place, birds soar uniquely, unhampered by the laws of the natural world.
Birds fly over the rainbow
These mystical creatures roam in abundance in this land of lullabies.
Why then, oh why can't I?
I am left to question why my imagination is limited, restricting me access to this fairy tale world.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Looking at something so joyous capable of existing where it is said to be impossible really causes me to question the world we are living in.
Why, oh why can't I?
A theme that frequently occurs in this song, which crops up again, as I yearn to be able to experience something so unique and wonderful.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind